This invention provides a method for forming brilliant multi-layered coating film excelling in brilliance, which comprises the steps of applying an effect pigment-containing water-borne base coating composition (A1) having a coating film viscosity (V.sub.A1) after 1 minute of its application of 10-500 Pasec onto a substrate to form a first base coating film; and applying an effect pigment-containing water-borne base coating composition (A2) having a coating film viscosity (V.sub.A2) after 1 minute of its application of 5-200 Pasec onto the first base coating film while the viscosity (V.sub.A3) of the first base coating film is 10-500 Pa sec, the viscosity ratio (V.sub.A1)/(V.sub.A2) being 1.3/1-35/1.